Spring expanding bracelet and wristlet



Deg-16, 924.

W. A. E. REED SPRING EXPANDING BRACELET AND WRISTLET Filed Sept. 13, 1922 Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. E. REED, OF NORTH: CARLTON, NEAR MELBGURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

SPRING EXPANDING BRACELET AND WRISTLET.

Application filed September 13, 1922. Serial No. 587,912.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM ALBERT ERNns'r Reno, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of North Carlton, near hzlelbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Expanding Bracelets and lVristlets, which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in spring expanding bracelets, and in spring expanding wristlets for Watches or articles of jewelry.

In spring expanding bracelets and wristlets, as now mamifactured ,v the links-housing small coiled springsare incapable of any appreciable lateral and independent movement to readily accommodate themselves to wrist actions. Consequently, a bracelet or wristlet is submitted to continuo-us wearing strains which weaken the end members of the links, and upon the application of sudden or undue strains there is frequently caused a fracture of the parts, and liability of loss of the articles results.

It is an object of the invention to provide an expanding bracelet or wristlet of spe cially durable and neat construction, according to which the coiled springs are completely encased, and the links are swivelly coupled, being thereby free to move laterally in either direction so as to form even sharp angles with adjacent links.

This object is achieved by providing links formed of two parts for convenience referred to as a fixed member and as an interfitting sli dable elementboth being of link form ation with curved ends. The fixed member has a longitudinal guide groove in the inner face of either its upper or its lower bar while the slidable interfitting element has an end tongue or projection accommodated by said guide groove. A small coiled spring is seated between the rear end of the slidable link element and the forward end of the fixed member, while ample clearance space is provided between the end of the slidable element and the adjacent end of the fixed link member to permit free pivotal movement in all directions (within required limits) of the link which is coupled thereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a por" tion of a spring expanding bracelet or wristher, respectively.

let constructed according to my improvements.

Figure 2 is an elevation illustrating the parts, shown in Figure 1, in expanded relationship.

Figure 3 is a plan view.

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the slidable element and the fixed link mem- Figures 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional. views of a link of a bracelet or wristlet in normal and in expanded positions, respectively.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional "iew of a link.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate in plan the blanks for the manufacture of the two members of a link.

The detail views Figures 4 to 10 are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1, 2 and 3.

In these views 1' designates the links of a spring expanding bracelet or wristlet. Each of these links comprises a fixed member 2 and a slidable interfitting element 3.

The link member 2 has its opposite ends 4 and 5 curved, and of reduced width by being recessed at 6. Formed in the lower bar 7 of the member 2 is a central longitudinal guide groove 8, providing an embossment 9 the under surface of said bar which funclions as a strengthening rib.

The fixed member 2 is constructed into link formation from a blank A, shaped as illustrated in Figure 9, by bending operations, the meeting edges being brazed together.

The slidable link element 3 has its opposite ends 10 and 11 curved, as illustrated, and a V-shaped tongue 12 depends from its rear end. The width of the slidable element 3 corresponds to the width of the fixed member 2, within which it is arranged edgewise, with its tongue 12- loosely fitting into the guide groove 8. The forward end 10 of the slidable element 3 extends beyond the fixed member 2, the rearward end 5 of which latter projects outwardly from the corresponding end 11 of the former to provide couplings for the fixed and the slidable elements of the two adjacent links, respectively.

The slidable link element 3 is constructed by bending operations from a blank B of the configuration illustrated in Figure 10, but before its forward end portions are bent inwardly and brazed together, a coiled ill) compression spring 13 is inserted between its longitudnal bars and it is then fitted snugly but slidably within the fixed member 2.

The arrangement of interfitting link members 2 and 3, constructed as described, provides a housing It completely encasing said spring, the opposite ends of which bear against the forward end 4 of the fixed link member and the rear end 11 of the slidable elementsee Figures 6 and 7.

In its expanding movement, the element 3 is guided by the tongue 12 travelling in the central longitudinal groove 8 formed in the bar of the fixed member 2. The curvature of the opposite ends of the link members and the recessing at 6 on the fixed member 2 to permit free pivotal movement of the links 1 either upwardly or downwardly, and also laterally in opposite directions, whereby the bracelet or wristlet will automatically accommodate itself to the wrist movements of the wearer and will permit lateral and independent movement of the links when the bracelet or wristlet is being moved upwardly on the arm, as for example when the wearer is putting on a glove.

hat I do claim is 1. A spring expanding bracelet or wristlet having links each of which comprises a fixed member, a slidable element telescopically arranged in said fixed member, a lon gitudinal groove in one of the horizontal bars of the fixed link member, a tongue on the slidable element fitting said groove, and a spring encased by said link members.

2. A spring expanding bracelet or wristlet as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the grooving of the fixed member forms an embossment forming a guiding groove and strengthening rib.

3. A spring expanding bracelet or wristlet as claimed in claim 1, in which the fixed member is provided with a longitudinal groove, and wherein the ends of the link members are curved, one curved end thereof being provided with a tongue to be guided in said groove, and the curved ends of the fixed link member are of reduced width enabling coupled links to have free pivotal movement.

4. In a spring expanding bracelet or wristlet, the link construction consisting of a horizontal link member 2, a vertical link element 3 slidably fitted within said horizontal link member and providing a housing, a coil spring 13 encased by said housing, and tongue and groove guides 8 and 12 on said slidably engaged link members, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. E. REED.

lNitnesses:

A. J. COLLINAN, JAMEs H. ANDERSON. 

